Egyptian Pyramids

Gr 5 Up—This upbeat and educational episode offers a good explanation of a few basic engineering terms and the historical context involved in the construction of the pyramids. The technology of the mobile laser scanner provides a 3-D image of pinpoint accuracy to reveal how they were made. The research team starts with the Step Pyramid, the first built, then moves on to the Collapsed Pyramid, an engineering failure. They research the Bent Pyramid believing it was also a botched enterprise, though data collected with the scanners indicates otherwise. The team concludes their research with the Great Pyramid of Giza. The data from the 3-D images also gives insight into the construction of tunnels and burial chambers. These were initially located underneath the structures but eventually were built within the pyramids themselves. The program shows how corbelling, an engineering method for distributing enormous weight, evolved. The Great Pyramid employs "relieving chambers" built above the flat roofed burial chamber, which demonstrates corbelling on a huge scale. The intriguing Egyptian setting and content may help maintain students' interest. The program also highlights the benefit of teamwork, as Egyptologists, structural engineers, and archeologists find that these discoveries effect all these disciplines. Presenter Dallas Campbell comes across as a bit overly dramatic, but the narration is cohesive and easy to follow. This is a well-organized production on an interesting topic featuring engineering techniques still used today.—C.A. Fehmel, St. Louis County, MO